Senator Kennedy and Michelle Obama Electrify Democratic Convention

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Washington Post

DENVER, Colo. - Two of Barack Obama's most important allies, his wife Michelle and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, spoke emotionally about his candidacy and his character on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, electrifying delegates with their improbable presence. Potentially the first African-American first lady, Michelle Obama was given an unusually prominent speaking slot, an opportunity she used to tell a series of personal stories about her South Side Chicago upbringing and marriage to the presumptive Democratic nominee. Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, cast the Illinois senator as the heir apparent to the legacy of the most famous family in Democratic politics.

"I have come here tonight to stand with you to change America. To restore its future, to rise to its best ideals, and to elect Barack Obama president of the United States," Kennedy said in a speech that brought cheering delegates to their feet at Denver's Pepsi Center. "This November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans."

Kennedy's presence was something of a surprise given his failing health. And, until moments before he appeared on stage there were questions about whether he would or could speak. But he told the delegates, "Nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight. I have come here tonight to stand with you, to change America."...

***

Unity is one goal this week, but another is swaying voters who are plenty familiar with Obama and his political career, but who still don't know him well. Michelle Obama's speech portrayed the candidate as a committed husband and father, who had been raised by his grandparents while his mother finished her studies, and after his father abandoned the family.

"In the end, after all that's happened these past 19 months, the Barack Obama I know today is the same man I fell in love with 19 years ago," Michelle Obama told the delegates. "He's the same man who drove me and our new baby daughter home from the hospital ten years ago this summer, inching along at a snail's pace, peering anxiously at us in the rear view mirror, feeling the whole weight of her future in his hands, determined to give her everything he'd struggled so hard for himself, determined to give her what he never had: the affirming embrace of a father's love."...

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/livecoverage /

[Fearless]

1. Damn right!

TK Senate 2012!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[qwlauren35]

3. "Two" Thumbs Up!

And not just because of Senator Kennedy and Mrs. Obama, but also because of what they accomplished by their words.

I watched Michelle give her speech on C-Span, and then listened as people called in. There were two calls from people who had been on the fence, thinking about McCain, who decided to go with Obama based on Michelle's speech. Two thumbs up.

I was both moved and analytical about the speeches. I'm too young to know all of the things Kennedy was alluding to. But just knowing that he was determined to get there tonight AND HAS PLEDGED TO SEE OBAMA SWORN IN IN JANUARY, was a true Kleenex moment. His speech was unifying mainly in terms of his determination to pass a torch to Obama's generation, the cusp between baby boomers and Gen X.

I liked Michelle's brother's speech just as much as I liked hers. He knocked the "she's an angry, bitter black woman" crap right out of the ballpark. I found myself applauding Michelle most when she did all of the PC things. "Hillary Clinton, who put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, enabling our daughters and sons to aim higher." And, she does "love" America. She said so. Take that, ye sound bite twisters looking for anything negative.

Knowing that her dad had multiple sclerosis was powerful for me because I've seen it in my family. And it clearly crosses color lines - my white, Jewish aunt struggled with it, as did my cousin's cousin of black Caribbean heritage. It's a b*tch. It's crippling and painful, and even for some, extremely humiliating because you become a normal human being trapped in a very abnormal, disagreeable, pathetically uncooperative body. A man who can smile through multiple sclerosis is an incredible human being. A woman with such a man as a father and role model has seen with her own eyes that anything can be overcome with willpower. And that the legacy of her father is to be the best possible parent.

Unmissable.

Perhaps to some, it was an introduction to the Obama family. To me, it was a clear statement about their values. They value family. If they've held it together for 19 years, they clearly value marriage. They value hard work. They value principled living and giving back to the community.

Frankly, I think their personal values are pretty centrist and extremely common in America. But what I love is that they are living them. They walk the talk. That means a lot to me.

And I KNOW that it nudged two more voters into our camp. Two thumbs up, 200 million to go.

[NewJeffCT]

12. Michelle was great, and

her brother was excellent as well

[barbtries]

4. you can see the whole thing on cspan

if you missed it. i fell asleep and just now went back to hear michelle obama's speech in its entirety, and was moved to tears.

this convention is a well-done spectacle and in my opinion, will seal the campaign for obama. i can only bitch that the ending of the WARS should be number one on the agenda as opposed to "the responsible withdrawal from iraq" that is being mentioned practically as an afterthought. not a word about getting out of afghanistan, or staying out of iran or any other sovereign nation. i want to see the change a new administration represents being nothing less than the onset of peace and the end of war. obviously that ain't gonna happen.

but overwhelmingly i would say an excellent show and definitely the democrats are looking very good. i hope they aren't just preaching to the choir.

[AlphaCentauri]

5. I did fall in love with Michelle, what a woman

she spoke for many many Americans

[DFW]

10. I agree. It's a good thing she and I are both married.

Removes the temptation and all........J/K!!

[merwin]

6. Man, I thought this was going to be about Michelle and Ted doing the tango or something.

[DFW]

7. I was there

My brother-in-law has a stage 4 glioblastoma, too, so I know how devastating it can be.
I was positively amazed Kennedy made the trip out, and it was pretty obvious how proud
and swelled with pride Caroline was. Man has SHE come a long way--what a poised speaker
she has become. Kennedy had about 90% of his pre-surgery force, which is about double
what most speakers have to begin with.

Michelle Obama must have been taking lessons. She gave an INCREDIBLE performance, missing
not one cue, and just radiating pure intelligence and eloquence. A LOT of the convention
attendees here thought that Cindy McCain won't even speak in Minneapolis to avoid everyone
making the inevitable negative comparison. Of course, Republicans cheer when Bush speaks,
so we could all be way off, and maybe they thought Michelle gave a bad speech.

Republican Congressman Leach of Iowa gave a very well-reasoned and sane speech about why
he was supporting Obama, and I guess this was a pre-response to Lieberman speaking at the
Republican convention. The difference is, all Lieberman will talk about is how important
it is to kill Arabs and Persians, and Leach cited a range of issues from A to Z.

All in all, a rather impressive evening, and there is plenty more to come.

There was a "party for your party" afterwards, where I actually met up with a lot of
people I know, the most prominent of which was Howard Dean. We talked mostly about
personal stuff, but one thing we did mention is that if Texas can be made to look like
even a long shot for us, it could make McBush spend time and money there he would prefer
to spend in Ohio or Florida.

I am still looking to meet up with the "offical" DU delegation here. We have texted, talked
on the phone, done everything but met up!!

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Thanks for a great eyewitness report, DFW!!!

Keep posting!

[DFW]

9. I will, if I can remain awake!!!

[Judi Lynn]

13. Thanks for your comments. Will look forward to more. I envy your great DEMOCRATIC experience! n/t

[Swagman]

11. America needs Michelle Obama as First lady !!!

Edward M.Kennedy..he looked very fit ! God is smiling on these people

[happygoluckytoyou]

14. in a related story... Mr and Mrs Bush Republicans bought another house

[Locrian]

15. not on network

Anyone know why they are not broadcasting on network TV (NBC, ABC, CBS)? I dont do cable TV and this really pisses me off.....

[tanyev]

18. Did you try PBS?

They showed all the speeches from 7:00-10:00, and didn't talk over any of them.

[glowing]

16. I was crying half way through Michelle's speach. She was awesome.

Also, didn't watch any of MSM.. I watched C-Span.. they actually show all the speaches and the videos.. and its so much better.. Like when some dumb ass said they didn't attack McCain.. well, actually, many of the speakers did attack the ideas of Bush and McCain and tied them together, however, the punditry would rather hear themselves speak, than to allow the people to speak and the Americans to learn.

[TheCoxwain]

17. Michelle is not just an American

I dont what strings were tugged in my heart - but when I heard Michelle speak tears just kept flowing out of my eyes... I cried ... A LOT.. This is a beautiful human story.

And I am not even an American ... How I wish I were . Just so that I could cast one vote for Obama. But when I do become a citizen in 2011 - I will be thinking of this speech of hers.. I know that despite all of the problems here - I have come to a better place..

How can anyone not be moved by it? But hey, it is their loss if they weren't. If some cannot appreciate the beauty of Federer's tennis or Debussy's haunting harmonies - guess who is losing out?

I was in so "COMFORTABLY NUMB" after that aria ...that I could see the lips of political analysts move but I couldn't hear what they were saying... .I swear ..My TV was not on Mute..That was some speech..

[BuelahWitch]

21. Thanks for your impressions TheCoxwain

And welcome to DU!

[RussBLib]

19. Michelle was excellent, however ...

People need to remember that there are more races in November than just the Presidency. Every House seat and 33 Senate seats are up for grabs, and some of those are very important to the nations future. So far, and I watched just about all of Day 1 of the Convention, about all I hear about is Obama/McCain/Bush.

[pleah]

20. K&R I can't wait til Mrs. Obama is first lady. Finally some real class

back in the White House!

She will be one of the best First Ladies we have ever had!

[CountAllVotes]

22. they both teared me up

esp. Sen. Kennedy. My god what a fine man he is. I hope he recovers and makes it in January.

May the force be with you both!

((Ted)) & ((Michelle))

[L. Coyote]

23. Let's REC "Michelle Obama at 2008 DNC" entire speech video

Let's REC this VIDEO to the top: Michelle Obama at 2008 DNC entire speech
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Michelle Obama at 2008 Democratic National Convention
Run time: 20:14
Posted on YouTube By: BarackObamadotcom

And give it some love on YouTube! =
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTFsB09KhqI